How To Shorten A Necklace

Want to shorten a necklace? Ever wish you could make a necklace of strung beads shorter? Shortening a necklace is easier than you think! We’ll show you where to cut the wire and how to put the clasp back on after you remove beads.

Follow along with our video “How To Shorten A Necklace”, then try it yourself with the steps below!

Video Tutorial: How To Shorten A Necklace

Tools & Materials Needed

Wire snips
Chain-nose pliers
Crimp bead
Crimp bead cover (optional)

Steps

1. Snip the clasp off right next to the clasp. You might think you want to cut the extra beads off the necklace, but it is better to cut the wire at the very end so you can reuse that end of wire to reattach the clasp. Save the clasp.

2. Remove enough beads to make the necklace the right length for you. Do not cut the wire. (Save the beads. You can make a pair of earrings to go with your necklace!)

3. Slide the crimp bead onto the wire. Slide it all the way on until it reaches the beads.

4. Slide the clasp onto the wire and slide it all the way down to the crimp.

5. Take the end of the wire and go around the clasp and feed the end of the wire back through the crimp.

6. Make sure the clasp and crimp are pressed tightly up against the beads with no extra wiggle room. Then flatten the crimp with the chain-nose pliers.